Government announces future direction for Grenfell

The provincial government’s long-anticipated announcement on
the future status of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial
University’s campus in Corner Brook, came today bundled in a
package that included a significant increase in the Grenfell budget
and measures to enhance the self-reliance of the west coast
institution.

Education minister Darin King and finance minister Tom Marshall
were in the west coast city to make the announcement. They were
joined by Memorial University officials, Bob Simmonds, chair of the
Board of Regents, Dr. Chris Loomis, president (pro tempore), and
Dr. Holly Pike, acting principal of Grenfell.

The ministers announced a $6.5 million (or 38 per cent) increase to
the base budget of Grenfell. The government has also requested that
Memorial’s Board of Regents implement a number of changes
designed to enhance the independence of Grenfell within Memorial.
These include:

Changing the name of Sir Wilfred Grenfell College to
“Memorial University of Newfoundland – Corner
Brook” to better reflect its existing status as a university
and to enhance its unique identity within Memorial;

Submitting a separate budget to government for Grenfell through
the Board of Regents to allow independent budget processes and
priority setting; and,

Positioning the principal of Grenfell on Memorial’s
Senior Executive Committee, reporting directly to the president of
the university.

“Grenfell has already proven that it is capable of great
things and this is an opportune time to build on its current
success,” said Minister King.

The Memorial University group welcomed the announcement and
indicated support for the various measures requested.

“Government’s review and decisions on this important
matter have brought much-needed clarity to the path forward for
Grenfell’s further development and growth within Memorial
University,” said Dr. Loomis. “This infusion of
resources will help create the conditions for growth and further
success at our Corner Brook campus.”

Mr. Simmonds echoed that sentiment: “Our goal is unwavering
– to grow Grenfell in terms of enrolment, programs and
research, with the focus on its tremendous strengths, while
recognizing the needs of Grenfell within the Memorial University of
Newfoundland community,” he said.

Dr. Pike added: “The changes Minister King announced today
give us the resources to support marketing, recruitment, research
and student supports. These, along with greater local control of
our fiscal planning, are among the important initiatives that we
identified in our strategic plan which will move us toward greater
autonomy,” she said.

The new government funding will support priorities identified by
Grenfell, including:

Enhanced marketing and student recruitment efforts, including
an international office to attract students

and identify new markets with the greatest recruitment
potential;

Five new positions to attract increased research funding and
additional positions in student support services and administrative
support based on Grenfell’s strategic planning process;

Annual funding in the amount of $1.6 million to eliminate
Grenfell’s existing operating deficit; and,

The establishment of a Grenfell Secretariat, located in Corner
Brook, to support Grenfell as it implements key priority areas for
growth.